Meet our team

Tom Cooper

President & Founder

Tom has served as the President of City in Focus for over thirty years. He has spear-headed this chaplaincy by caring for the soul of the city though the dynamic connections with the business, political, and faith communities of Vancouver. Tom is a Minister of Religion ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Canada. Reach Tom: tom@cityinfocus.ca

Lisa Marquis

Director, Operations and Administration

Lisa has been working with City in Focus since early 2023. She oversees the ins and outs of accounts, social media, and website. She lives in Burnaby with her husband and family. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Care with a minor in Philosophy and Communications. She serves as a Spiritual Guide, adult faith coordinator, choir leader and a dedicated homeschooling mom. Email Lisa.

Grace Abas

Events Manager

Grace started working with City in Focus in 2024. She manages all major events such as the BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast and the Jesuit Charity Reception. She has a passion and heart for all things beautiful, seen through hobbies like flower arranging and service to God and others through her faith. Grace lives in Surrey with her husband, Bryan, and their daughter, Gemma. Email Grace.

Valeria Vergani,
Board Member and Coordinator of Interfaith Relations

Valeria has worked for City in Focus in a variety of roles from 2016 to 2020. Currently, she continues to participate in the City in Focus community, on a volunteer basis, to strengthen City in Focus's interfaith relations and to serve as a board member for the Foundation. She lives in the Bay Area, where she is pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies at Stanford University. Email Valeria.

Chris Chiu,
Director of Retreats & Spiritual Direction

Chris’s passion is to help individuals and communities in the Vancouver area nurture contemplative experiences with Jesus Christ, leading to inner freedom and loving service. He lives out this mission by offering people opportunities to experience meditation, contemplation, spiritual direction, Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, and retreats. Chris is a spiritual director with the SoulStream Community and the Program Coordinator of Jesuit Spirituality Apostolate of Vancouver. He is married with 3 children and has an MA in Theological Studies from Regent College. You can email him at: chris@cityinfocus.ca.